Green Cleaning Spot

Green Cleaning Recipes – Nontoxic Household Cleaning Recipes

2007-10-10T17:16:18Z

Green cleaning means using products that won’t harm you, your children, or the environment. Ingredients used in green cleaning recipes include: baking soda, white vinegar and liquid soap. You will need to purchase some supplies: a scouring pad, cotton washcloth or sponge, cotton rag (with minimal lint), and a 16-ounce spray bottle.

Following are green cleaning recipes for creating nontoxic household cleaners:

Tub and sink cleaner (baking soda and liquid soap)

Sprinkle baking soda on the porcelain fixtures. Rub with wet rag. Add a few drops of the liquid, Murphy’s soap to the rag for more cleaning power. Rinse well to avoid leaving a hazy film.

Window and mirror cleaner (white vinegar and water)

Put 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle and fill to the top with water. Spray on the surface. Rub with a lint-free cotton rag. For outdoor windows, use a sponge and wash with warm water and a few drops of liquid Murphy’s or castile soap in it. Rinse well and squeegee dry.

Linoleum floor cleaner (white vinegar and water)

Mop with a mixture of 1/2 cup vinegar in a bucket of warm water. The vinegar odor will dissipate shortly after the floor dries.

Toilet bowl cleaner (baking soda and liquid soap)

Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl as you would any scouring powder. Add a couple drops of liquid soap as well. Scrub with a toilet bowl brush and finish the outside surfaces with a rag sprinkled with baking soda.

All purpose cleaner (liquid soap)

Use Murphy’s liquid soap to remove spots from woodwork, tile and linoleum. Add a few drops of liquid soap to a wet washcloth and rub surface briskly.

Oven cleaner (baking soda and water)

Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply the paste to oven surfaces and let it stand a little while. Use the scouring pad for scrubbing most surfaces. A spatula or a bread knife is effective to get under large food deposits. This recipe will require more scrubbing effort, but it is nontoxic for you, your children and the environment. Commercial oven cleaners contain severe irritants. Do not use this cleaner recipe on self-cleaning ovens!

Drain cleaner (baking soda, white vinegar and boiling water)

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain first, then 1/2 cup vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes. Then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. Repeat if needed. If the clog is stubborn, use a plunger. For very stubborn clogs, use a mechanical snake. This recipe will free minor clogs and helps to prevent future clogs.

Copper cleaner (white vinegar, water and salt)

Mix equal parts of vinegar and salt (a tablespoon of each) and apply to the surface with a rag. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with water afterwards, otherwise it will corrode. Don’t use this cleaner on lacquered finishes!

Use these green cleaning recipes to create homemade cleaners that are safe for you, your children and the environment.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find home improvement tips and resources, such as green cleaning recipes, at http://www.myguidesusa.com/homeimprovement

Green Cleaning to Reduce Indoor Air Pollutants

2007-10-10T17:07:18Z

Indoor Air Pollutants

According to the U.S. EPA, the level of pollutants in indoor air can range from two to over 100 times higher than outdoors. Indoor pollution is due, in large part, to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate from home decorating and cleaning products.

Walk around your home and try to identify possible indoor pollutants. From synthetic room fresheners to fragrant cleaning products, the majority of us use these products in abundance. Although convenient to use, non-green-products make indoor air unhealthy, cause respiratory reactions, skin and eye irritations, and are harmful to the environment.

According to a New Scientist study, in homes where aerosol sprays and air fresheners were used frequently, mothers experienced 25 percent more headaches and were almost 20 percent more likely to suffer from depression. In the same homes, infants under six months of age had 30 percent more ear infections and a 20 percent higher incidence of diarrhea. The first step in cleaning should be to open a window to let the pollutants out!

What is Green Cleaning?

Green cleaning involves using products that won’t endanger you, your children, or the environment. It means selecting alternative products, using the new products properly, and taking other steps to reduce risks while maintaining a level of cleanliness and disinfection.

In choosing alternatives, be aware that seeing “natural” on labels doesn’t mean “nontoxic.” There are no government standards for claims such as “nontoxic,” “eco-safe” and “environmentally-friendly.” According to the Consumer Union’s Eco-labels web site, these terms are meaningless.

Following are green cleaning items:

Baking soda
White vinegar
Murphy’s liquid soap
Scouring pad
Cotton washcloth or sponge
Cotton rag with minimal lint
16 ounce spray bottle

Try green cleaning practices to reduce health, safety and environmental risks.

Find home improvement tips and resources, such as green cleaning recipes, at http://www.myguidesusa.com/homeimprovement

A Natural Clean Saves Green

2007-10-04T15:35:26Z

My wife recently cleaned our oven. Not the inside but the top. You know, around the elements where it is just burnt on. We recently have changed to natural cleaning. So when it came time for the oven, my wife used non-toxic general purpose cleaner. While this is highly concentrated, the stains were also quite old. So, she used it full strength. She didn’t need a mask or gloves to do this. She just let it soak & then the baked-on crud slowly came off with some scrubbing.

Here’s the point. The various commercial cleaners from the store contain petroleum distillates. They produce potentially deadly fumes & are harmful to our environment. Not to mention the fact they cost much more per ounce then the natural cleaners. Often their packaging is non-recyclable.

The store-bought cleaners are also pre-mixed. With the natural cleaners, you decide how strong you would like the solution. Just one quart of natural cleaner can make up to 32 gallons of safe cleaning solution. One quart of cleaner from the store equals one quart of cleaner.

The natural cleaning products are just as effective as their toxic counterparts. It’s easy to save money with organic cleaning since the products are concentrated. We have cleaned quite a few things with the cleaner so far, & still have quite a bit of concentrate left. At just pennies per quart of diluted solution, there isn’t a much more effective cleaner out there for the money.

Natural cleaners are effective everywhere in the home. While the kitchen & bathroom contain most of the more harmful cleaners, they can be found in all areas. Even air fresheners (aerosol) are harmful. Natural cleaning products can provide a safe home environment & help save money.

John Marshall a.k.a. “Mr. Green Clean” is an advocate of natural cleaning. More info available at http://www.completegreencleaning.com. Copyright (c) John Marshall. Reprint article only with this resource box included please.

Three All Natural Cleaning Solutions

2007-10-01T18:41:13Z

Long before I even knew about living an organic lifestyle, I learned about the benefits and power of 3 very simple household items. These 3 all natural cleaning solutions have passed the “test”, time and time again, for this mom of 3 very active boys!

Vinegar. A natural product that poses no chemical or toxic harm to your family, vinegar is a natural cleaning solution that can be used as an all-purpose cleaner for most any household cleaning jobs.

(NOTE: Always test a small area if you have any doubt or concern about the surface you plan to apply vinegar/water to.)

With an equal mix of vinegar to water, it’s a great cleaner for floors, kitchen cabinets, countertops, sinks, appliances and the inside of your refrigerator.

Vinegar is also an effective natural cleaner for the bathroom. It’s great for cleaning through soap scum and stubborn hard water stains in sinks and toilets. Again, test on tile and/or grout areas before use. You can also use to achieve a streak-free cleaning on all mirrors and glass surfaces.

Of course, organic produce is always the best choice, but when it’s not an option, vinegar can help. That’s right! A few tablespoons of vinegar to a sink or bucket full of water, washes away pesticides, chemicals and germs from non-organic fruits and vegetables. Soak the produce for 15-30 minutes before using.

Baking Soda. Another all natural product that’s inexpensive yet an effective all natural cleaner and deodorizer. Mixed with a small amount of water the baking soda paste can be used to scrub stubborn stains from most any surfaces. It’s also a great natural teeth cleaner and whitener as well as a natural deodorizer in closets, refrigerators and freezers.

And the third natural cleaning solution I found many household cleaning tasks for is lemon. It’s natural, smells great and combined with baking soda is a very effective cleaner.

Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with baking soda and you have an all natural scrubbing solution for dishes, countertops, stubborn stains and soap scums. Lemon also cleans brass and copper and when combined with olive oil can be used on wood as an all natural furniture cleaner.

So there you have 3 very simple, inexpensive and effective all natural cleaning solutions. Vinegar, Baking Soda and Lemons.

Chances are, you already have these items in your home so the next time you reach for a toxic cleaning solution, think twice, and try going all natural!

“themom”, a/k/a Denise Palmer is a mom and Internet Consultant. Moms Organic House is a combination of 13 years of Internet experience and a passion for organic living and education. If you’d like to learn more about how to create or sustain a practical, simple, yet effective organic lifestyle, visit Moms Organic House for more information.

Clean Windows Without Chemicals

2007-09-27T20:21:52Z

Want to make window cleaning safer and easier than ever?Stop using blue spray cleaners and harmful chemicals to clean your windows. Don’t waste another tree by going through paper towel after paper towel. If you want to have sparkling windows that are super clean and polished, and you want to do it without chemicals, then you should try the Ultimate Window Cloth. This easy to use cloth is a brand new innovation in cleaning cloth technology. It features a dual sided design for unmatched cleaning power and drying ability. This amazing little cloth will allow you to clean windows, mirrors and other like surfaces with just water as a detergent. That’s right. No more window cleaner. Just add water to get your windows cleaner than ever and without a chemical residue or any kind of streaking or lint.

One side is made from microfiber so it is great for cleaning, while the other side is made of shammy material. This side is great for drying and polishing. To clean your windows all you have to do is get the cloth damp and wipe away. Wipe with one side to clean and remove build-up. Then flip it over and use the shammy side to dry and buff to a polished, streak-free shine. This cloth is totally reusable and washable. Use it over and over for sparkling windows, mirrors, chrome, counters and more. The incredible cleaning power of the microfiber allows you to remove 99% of all dirt, dust and germs with just water on the cloth. Use the shammy side to dry and polish to a streak-free and lint-free shine. This is the fastest, easiest and safest way to clean windows. Reusable and washable hundreds of times. Welcome to the future of window washing!

Ultimate Window Cloth

Why To Use Homemade Natural Soap

2007-09-27T17:44:25Z

There is much discussion about all natural cleaning products and manufactured cleaning products. The reason goes the all natural products, such as homemade natural soaps, shampoos, shower gels, and conditioners have all natural cleaning ingredients provided by nature. The store bought manufactured products have chemicals and ingredients provided by us, not nature. One of the main ingredients of discussion is sodium lauryl sulfates, SLS. There is research from the all natural community showing too much SLS can enter the blood through the skin, and be very toxic at certain levels. And, it is also an ingredient in cleaning products such as engine cleaners and oven cleaners. When you think about it, washing your face with a chemical you use to clean the stove does not sound very appealing to me!!

But what does the SLS actually do? Well, for a short and simple answer, it bubbles, or foams. That is it. If it really that bad for you, would the Proctor and Gambles of the world continue to manufacture something deliberately harmful to us? I think not.

The actual method you get clean happens like this. Take your hands for instance. You should wet your hands slightly. Then put soap on them and rub them vigorously together, not under water. You should do this for at least a minute. You will see all kinds of bubbles, and most likely, you will also see dirt on the bubbles. It is the friction of the rubbing motion of your hands, which is actually cleaning them. The SLS acts as a carrier, and removes the dirt from you hands and puts it in the bubbles. Then you rinse the bubbles off, and hence, the dirt goes with it. That is it.

If you notice, all natural products do not have SLS in them, therefore they do not bubble. And because they do not bubble, people will think they are not working. It is what I believed at one time. But they are working. Many of the all natural products have a citrus product in them, which is an excellent all natural cleaning product. So, they do not need the bubbles to clean, they have the ingredients. Makes you wonder why even buy some expensive soap, when the cheapest one will work just as well.

Homemade natural soap products and regular products will work just fine. Just keep an eye on the SLS when using soaps and shampoos on your baby. The SLS has been proven to enter the blood through the skin, and the baby does have a soft spot. Personally, I did not take a chance with my 2 kids. They used all natural homemade soap and shampoo.

Michael Baker is a practitioner of All Natural Health. From herbs, to all natural shampoos, and alternative health, www.n2scents.com/store covers it.

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Get Rid of Those Chemicals!

2007-09-27T17:16:53Z

There are many natural and organic cleaning products available in stores now. I have been using some of them for a few months and have been very pleased. Most natural products contain ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, plant derived surfactants and essential oils such as lavender or tea tree oil.

There are many benefits to using these newer non-toxic cleaning products. Number one, of course, they are NON TOXIC! Great for households with small children and pets. There are many ingredients in conventional cleaning products that are extremely hazardous to ones health. For example, certain toilet bowl cleaners use an ingredient called Acid Blue 9, which can be carginogenic.

Natural cleaning products are not only better for humans and animals, but better for the environment as well. Ingredients from conventional cleaning products can get into the environment in a few ways. Toilet bowl cleaners and sink cleaners are flushed down toilets and rinsed down sinks. Many products are thrown in the trash where they make their way to landfills, soaking into the ground, contaminating groundwater and the soil.

Switching to natural cleaning products is beneficial to many. Sometimes, they can even be less expensive if you make your own. Mineral oil can be used for a polish on wood furniture. Lemon juice is excellent for removing set in stains, even rush or mildew! Squeeze a few lemon onto the stain and let it soak. Even better, let it soak in the sun. A mixture of apple cider vinegar and water is an excellent bathroom and kitchen cleaner. Use it to clean counters, appliances, toilets and sinks. For cleaning toilets, use a half cup of baking soda and then a cup of vinegar and swish around with a toilet brush. Tea Tree oil has antiseptic qualities and is very concentrated. Purchase a small bottle (around $6) and just a few drops of the oil in a spray bottle of water will clean for weeks. It also has a deodorizing effect, so it is great for cleaning bathrooms.

Even if you do not chose to make your own cleaners, you can use commercially made natural cleaners. Seventh Generation vegetable based cleaners are wonderful and are free and clear of added fragrances. Some of their products are also hypo-allergenic plus they do not have phosphates, acids, caustics, dyes and are not tested on animals.

Mrs. Meyers is another brand of cleaners that I use frequently. All of their cleaning products are made with essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free, and they are not tested on animals. My favorite is their lavender scented counter spray. It makes the entire room you are cleaning smell fabulous. It is hard to believe a cleaner can smell so nice! This cleaner can be used on just about every non-porous surface, like finished wood and tile floors, countertops, walls, porcelain, bathroom fixtures, sealed stone, and more.

Do your family and the environment a favor and switch to natural products!

http://nicolepotts1.livejournal.com/

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New York City Entrepreneur Launches Eco-Friendly Green House Cleaning Maid Service

2007-09-25T17:02:15Z

Scaling the twin peaks of a burgeoning environmental consumer movement and a steadily upward trend in service sector jobs, New Yorker Cori Morenberg recently launched the immediately successful non-toxic home and commercial cleaning business called Ms. Green-Clean (www.msgreenclean.com) that services Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and parts of Yonkers, Nyack and Westchester.The spunky entrepreneur and her team of well-trained Cleaners scrub, polish and brighten New York City area homes and businesses using only non-toxic, natural, environmentally friendly products paired with equal parts elbow grease and common sense.

In addition to using several earth-friendly commercial cleaning products, Morenberg and her team mix up many of their own cleansers inspired by tried-and-true recipes containing vinegar, baking soda, borax, castile soap, essential oils of geranium, cinnamon, lemon, lavender, and tea tree, and several other common, natural aromatherapy and sanitizing ingredients.

In addition to standard maid and cleaning services Ms. Green-Clean offers deep-down Spring cleanings, moving-in and -out cleanings, pre- and post-party cleanings, purging and organizing assistance, and home eco-consultations.

With a degree in Botany and a fertile work history including environmental organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, The New York Botanical Garden and Greenpeace, it was a natural transition for eco-conscious Morenberg to plant and grow this leafy, green business.

“And with global warming, species and habitat loss, pollution, and other environmental problems becoming so critical, it was a no-brainer,” says Morenberg. “I really wanted to do something to make a difference and I think starting small and close to home is important. It empowers people to know they can make changes, and hopefully their positive actions snowball into wider arenas. I’ve always believed the sixties’ phrase that ‘the personal is political.'”

To learn more about Ms. Green-Clean’s non-toxic maid services and to book appointments, visit online at www.msgreenclean.com.

NYKB: Green is Good

2007-09-25T16:54:55Z

People today are more environmentally aware than ever and NYKB, New York City’s premier kitchen and bath remodeling firm, is absorbing these ecological concerns into its work. The Manhattan-based one-stop home design company is striving to become the best eco-friendly option for New Yorkers wishing to renovate their apartments. Under the environmental stewardship of NYKB President, Perry Hiiman, the company is instituting in-house initiatives that will encourage customers to opt for green solutions. In addition, NYKB has instituted a company-wide campaign of environmental awareness for its employees. NYKB is quick to reassure customers that there are no losers in the green migration. In fact, an eco-conscious apartment dweller in the Big Apple is being practical (saving money on energy conserving appliances in the face of rising energy costs, for instance) and loses nothing in the way of creature comforts. NYKB’s lead designer, Mairav Gargano, is well aware of the green appeal and says, “do not equate ‘green’ with ‘customer sacrifice’ because there is a wide range of eco-alternatives. Companies like Caesarstone have terrific alternative, all-natural options and we are using them.”

NYKB is forging business relationships with companies, like Caesarstone, who are dedicated to an eco-friendly business practice. Another company NYKB salutes is the custom supplier QuakerMaid Cabinetry. All of the QuakerMaid board that NYKB installs is California 2009 compliant and its exotic veneers are either plantation grown or bamboo. No exceptions. Sales teams at NYKB are making pointed efforts to disclose the environmental benefits of these and other earth-friendly products on sales calls. To date, the customer base has been overwhelmingly receptive.

A good, eco-friendly business should be aware of environmental impact its products have. Bamboo, a versatile and handsome wood, is a raw material being used more frequently by NYKB these days. Bamboo is an easily renewable resource, a wonderful material for the green minded consumer to incorporate in the kitchen. Not only is it the fastest growing plant in the world, but it flourishes naturally and requires no extra water, energy, or fertilizer for sustainable harvesting. NYKB designer, Geoffrey Belle, is a big fan of bamboo. Said Belle, “Most people like bamboo because it looks great, but more and more people are using it because it’s eco-friendly, which is a great thing. And it’s durable, too.”

One Green Globe Unveils Premiere Directory

2007-09-25T16:49:50Z

One Green Globe [http://www.onegreenglobe.com], announced today the availability of its latest premiere service, the One Green Globe Directory. One Green Globe is a growing online platform providing affordable, cost-effective resources for conscientious individuals, businesses and groups, working to build a sustainable planet. The directory, which has been in beta the past few months, has already attracted wide support and customers. One Green Globe aims to serve the global community concerned with alternative health, the environment, holistic and sustainable lifestyles.

“We’re excited to be a part of One Green Globe. We can all make a difference, one green step at a time,” said Joel Hoffman, Internet Development, The Green Car Company [http://www.thegreencarco.com].

“One Green Globe is specifically designed to serve as an informational platform for health and environmentally conscious individuals, groups, business, and services to connect virtually world-wide,” said Dean Mello, Founder and CTO, One Green Globe.

The One Green Globe Directory is now available for listing and/or advertising, and is designed to work independently, or in conjunction with the company’s previously launched service, Green Life Pixels [http://www.greenlifepixels.com], an innovative advertising resource that was the first pixel site to both promote and raise funds for sustainability. Each service will be aggressively marketed for the highest levels of visibility, and targeted to niche markets concerned with sustainable life. The company is posed to launch a number of other relevant services in 2007.

“The One Green Globe Directory is affectionately becoming known as ‘The Human Green-Mapping Project’, as it represents the collaborative contributions of the global community for planetary health,” said Marie Gunter, Founder and CEO, One Green Globe. We’re truly inspired and honored to provide such a distinct service that businesses and consumers are finding so useful.”

The company is currently developing several co-marketing partnerships which will be announced in the coming weeks. These partnerships will serve to further support One Green Globe’s mission and help broaden education to businesses, and consumers about the company and its services through global marketing activities, including print, broadcast, events and internet outreach.

For additional information, please contact:
OneGreenGlobe – (206) 905-9573

# # #

About One Green Globe
OneGreenGlobe.com is a leading online platform for conscientious consumers, businesses and groups who are working to build a sustainable planet. In addition to the One Green Globe Directory, the company also owns and operates the GreenLifePixels.com website, an innovative and affordable online advertising network for companies with products and services that help people become more aware of and make better sustainable life choices. One Green Globe publishes a monthly online eNewsletter titled, “The Green Page eNews” to showcase individual and group leadership in the sustainable industry. The company, headquartered in Bellevue, WA donates (10%) ten percent of its annual net profits from pixel ad sales to sustainable efforts worldwide.

Contact:
Marie Gunter, Founder
One Green Globe
(206) 905-9573